Railroad-gate.



F. A. STRI'ETEII1 RAILROAD GATE. APPLICATION FILED )UNE 21. 1916.

'Panama ont 30,1917.

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F. A. sTRlmR. RAILROAD GATE.

` APPucmun msu Jun: 21. 191e. H 1,245,061. Patnted Oct. 30,1917.y

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, tioi'i is to provide a gate wi used for operating the mechanism.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE. .l

' FLORENCE A. STRIETER, OF CHIGAGG, ILLJNOIS.

RAILROAD-GATE.

T0 all whom. it 'may concern Be it known that I FiionEN oE A. STRIETER,a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of(,ook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Railrorul-(iates, of wh ich the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to railway gates andparticularly to that class ofgates which are used to obstruct the highway crossing a railroad attimes when trains arc approaching and crossing the highway.

It has been found that railway gates, or

the supporting posts thereof, often form undesirable obstrt Ations totraiiic; and not only are frequently injured by vehicles, but alsovehicles, particularly.' automobiles, may `become stranded against thesesupports and thus prevent closing of the gates, or they may bennable toclear the railroad track in time'to avoid. injury by the train. Bcoauseof this, one of the objects of my in vention is to provide a suitablegate which when open has no portion above the surface of the' highway.This arrangement also prevents any interference `with the operation ofthe gate by sleet, hail, snow, or ice; `and prevents injury to the vgateor the mechanism by the elements.

It has also been found that railway gates are sometimes run into byvehicles as they are bein closed, thus, perlu'ips7 preventing thev'ehlcle from escaping the train. In view of this, one of the objects ofmy i nveniieh will be forced out of the way of vehicle rtvithas not beenclosed too far, and hence the danger of injury is reduced. n

ther objects of the invention will he Y" apparent from a considerationof the following description thereof.

Of the accoi'npanying drawings, Figure 1 is a reduced plan-view ofarailroad crossing, a highway, and of a gate which I pro vide forobstructing the-highway at the` proper time. Fig. 2 is a section `alongthe line 2-2 of` Fig. l illustrating the gate' and operating "mechanismwhich embody the features of my invention.' Fig. 3 is a planview of thegate and operating mechanism showing diagrammatically the electric1@means 1g. 4 is a detail diagrammatic illustration of the electricmeans. Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the gate and the operatingmechanism valong the line 5--5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an Spcification ofLetters Patent. Patented Oct, 30, 1917, Application lcd June 27, 1916.Serial No. 106.131.

enlarged detail view of a certain feature of the mechanism.

v ln general the invention comprises a chamber S'beneatb the highway 9which is crossed by the railroail l0. The walls 11 of the chamber arevmade of any suitable lmatcrial such as cement, and have suitable inletsfor the entrance of repair men or for other purposes! Slidably mountedin the posts 12, which are inelosed and vertically supported in the`chamber 8, is the gate 13, the upper plate 14 of which, when the gateis down or open rests uponl the surface of the highway and closes theopeningl 15 in the highway through which the ate is elevated. Gearracksl forma portion of the frame of the gate and are arranged to slidevertically in the guiding posts lf2. A central rack 17, forming also aportion of the frame of the gate, may be used if the gate is ofsufficient length to warrant. "hen the gate is open no portion thereofprojects above the surface of the highway. bells or other signals may beused, however, in any ordinary or suitable manner.

rl'he operating mechanism of the fgate comprises gear-wheels 18, mountedonV a shaft 19 journaled in brackets Q0. Fixed to one end of the shaft19, is a gear-wheel 21, meshing with a pinion 22, whichis mounted on theshaft of the operating motor 23. The

Supports for lights,

gear wheels 18 mesh with vthe respective i racks 1G and 17 and, when themotor is 0perated in the proper direction, the gate will be raised tothe position desired.

Suitably mounted adjacent'the railroad track 10, are electric switches26 and 27, arranged to be closed in an ordinary manner by the wheels ofthe train as it ap proacbes or l'haves the highway; and pro erlyconnected to these switches' are electrlc conductors which are connectedin a suitable manner to the motor 23, as is more fully describedhereinafter.

In practice when the front wheels of the [approaching train reach switch2G, the switch` will be closed and the motor will be set in operationrotating in the proper'direction to elevate 1the gate; the gate will beelevated until the bottom ends of the racks pass slightly above theshaft 19; and the gate, by means hereinafter described, will4 be heldin1 such position with the racks clear of the gear wheels 18 the gearwheels running idle until the supporting means are released, y When thefront, Wheel 0f the train 4 tor, Suita reach""switch 27, the lmotor willbe reversed, thesupporting means referred to will bewithdrawn, and theracks, due to the weight of the gate, will be 4forced downwardly in meshwithl the gear-wheels, and

the motor will draw the gate'downwardly 1tonormal position. When thegate is lowered to normal position, .the lower portion thereof will opena switch which will open 'the operating circuit and sto the mole weightsmay be used) in forcing the-"`gate downward, if desired.

" closed by Fig. 4 shows diagrammaticallythe elec.-

tric means used for operating `-the motor. held- The starting switch 26is normall o en by means of'a spring. 60; andy when c osed and the motoris in operation is kheld the electro-magnetl 61.I The reversing switch27 is -normally'held in the osition shown =by the spring '62 and is heldinthe reversed vposition by the electro-magnet 63. The stopping switch30 is normal y held open by-the bottom of the gate; and is closed whenthe gate is elevated by4 the s ring ,64. In the diagram thesource of eectric energy is indicated by 65, the field "coils.of the motor by 66and the armature coils hy 67. Switches 26 and 27 are held in positionagainst the force of the respective springs 60 and 62 and switch 26-alsothe field current alone is tooweak toA hold ,the switch 26 in positionagainst its sprin and the armature current cannot shi t switch 27`against the out the circuits, it will be seen that, when switch '26 isclosed, the current passes from -the battery 65 to the field coils 66,through by the armature current,

the electro-magnetic coil 61, switch 26, and back to the battery; and italso passes from fthe battery through the connecting wires to 'gateeasily'but not to prevent the gate beyrunning over the top 'switch 27,to the armature coils 67, back lthrough the other branch of the switch27, through the electro-magnetic coils 63 and 61, and through switch 26back to the battery. ",Hence as soon as switch 27 is reached by thetrain this switch ywill b eV shifted, will be held in the shiftedposition by the coil 63,. and the motor will therefore be reversed indirection and will so continueun- Atil switch is Aopened by .thevdescending gate, whenjtlie electro-magnet 61 will be 'deenergized andswitch 26 will/Whe opened. 'I

. In order to keep the electro-magnets-'l and 63 energized when switch27 is shifted,

the blades'of the switch'are so constructed as to short the ycontacts,asy the 'blades are shifted, and the coilsj ofthe magnets preventldexigen-pusu fiowpfcurrent'through the shotd circuit.

The 4motoris of such power asto lift the ing' forced' downwardly "by an-automobile before the gate has been iaiseda veryliiateriiil distance.lThe to assist the armature,-

fixed to the by the field current; but

vmeans Vand Hence incase of breakage, or any need of spring. `By tracingwheel rotates in the direction the member 38y will be` l finger 34, andthe arm front wheels of the automobile will forcel the top` down or atleast delay its movement suliiciently to allow the lrear wheels to lpassover.- If lthe te has risen too far to be run over by te wheels, it willordinarily 'be plainly tomobile, and if run into it will merely stop theautomobile. The electromagnetic coils are'designed so as to providesufiicient resistance to prevent in'ury to the armature :foils by alargef'low o current even'though as the gate is force'l downwardly, isrotated in a reverse direction.

The means which I haveprovided for holding the racks 16 and 17 out ofmesh of the gear wheels 18 when the gate is elevated to its highestposition, comprises a block 33, bottomof the rack 16 adjacent thegeardvheel 21, and a pawl 34, pivoted to the supporting post. Thepawl bymeans of'a spring 35, is forced under the block 33, .whenthe racks areelevatedA to the maximum position, and thus holds the racks in suchposition. -The bottom of the block 33 is beveled, as shown inFilgf 5, soas tosupport thefblock in the hig est position. as the upper end of thepawl turns inwardly. By

this arrangement, it will be seen that the gate, when supported by thepawl, is entirely disconnected from the elevating means and is free tohe lifted out of the guiding entirely vremoved therefrom.

repairs1 or`in cuseof inoperativeness of the elevating' means, the gatemay be readily removed for trepairs or to allow traffic to pass.

In order to release the. pawl when the motor is reversed, I provide afinger 37, fixed to they gear-wheel21, and so positioned ,thereon that,the outeriend of a member 38,

will lie in the pathway oi the finger as the finger rotates with thegear-wheel 21. The member 38 ispivoted to the outer end of an arm39"fixed to the pawl 34.- As the gearrequired to elevate the, gate,turned backwardly by the finger 37 as the two come in contact. But thespring 41 will force the member-,back to normal ,position when thefinger passes, and, as the gear 21 is reversed in direction, a .stop 40will prevent Lthe member-38 being'pushed aside by the 39 will be drivenoutwardly, and this in turn will force outwardly the pawl 34, releasingthe block 33 andallowing the racks to dcsccud andmesh with thegear-wheels 18.

'Although I have described with much particularity the various details'of the mech- Janismy which l prefer for carrying out thej purpose lofvvmy invention. v ct it will be 'evident that pcrso'ns skilled in the artcould make modifications therein without departing from thc' spirit ofin v invention, as disclosed by' the following claims. And it is seen bythe operator of the au-v iis 'iso

I to be understood that the gates may be opened.

placed each side of the railway track, the two-being operated by thesame switches; and switches may be inserted to operate when the train ismoving in either direction on the same track or on a doubletrack.

I claim asniy invention:

1. The combination of ay railroad-track crossing gate, an electricmotor, operating means connecting said gate with said motor, a circuitfor operating 4said motor, a switch in said circuit adjacent .therailroad'track and adapted to be clo'sed ,by the wheels of a train,resilient ymeans tending to hold said switch open, an electromag'nctwith its coil in said circuit adapted to hold said switch closed when'said circuit is energized, a re-` versing switch in said circuit adaptedto be operated bythe wheels of a train on said track, resilient moanstending to hold'fsaid reversing switch in one position, andanelectromagnet with 'its coil in said circuitadapted to hold 'saidreversing switch in another position when 'said circuit is energized; athird switch in said circuit adapted to be operated bysaid gate,Vresilient means tendin to hold said third switch closed, said thirt`switch being opened when said gate is '2.Thc combination of a railroadtrackl crossing gate, an electric motor, means connecting' sald gatewith said' motor, a cir- 4 cuit for operating said motor, a switch insaid circuit adjacent the railroad track and adapted to be closed'byVthe Wheels of a train, resilient means tending to hold said switchopen,l an electromagnet'with its coil in said circuit adapted toholdsaid switc closed when said circuit is energized, a reV versingswitch in said circuit'adapted to` be operated by the Wheels of atrain0n said track, resilient means tending to hold said reversing switc inposition to operate the motor to raise the gate, an electromal netiwwith its coil in said circuit adapted to old said reversing switch inposition to? lower the gate when said circuit' is energized;

means associated With said track for moving said reversingswitchfromlthe former to the latter position; a third. switch in said circuitadaptedto be operated by said gate, and resilient. meansA tendinglr toholdsaid third switch closed, said gate When opened adapted to open saidthird switch.

3. The combination of a gate; a frame for holding saidgate; meansfor'elevating said gate comprising a rack' and a coperating pinion',means for supporting said gate cornprising a block ixed to said rack, apawl `pivoted to'saidcframe adjacent said rack,

resilient means forforcing said pawl beneath said block when said rackis raised by said pinion to the maximum elevation, ,and l'neans forremoving said paw] from bem-xatlrsaid 4. The combination ofa gate aframe for holding' said gate; a motoi` for operating said gate; a rackand gear connecting said moto-r with said gate; means for supportingsaid gate in its maximum elevation comprisoted to said frame, andresilient means for I forcing said pawl beneath `'said block when thelower tooth of said rack is -elevated by saidpinion above said pinion;and means forl removing said pawl. from beneath said block when saidmotor is reversed,` said `ing a block fixedv to said rack, a pawl .piv-

means comprising a finger fixed to said pinl ion, said pawl when beneathsaid block being in the path of motion of said finger.

5. The combination of a gate, means for elevating said gate, means forsupporting said gate in its highest position,means for starting said'elevating means, meansfor stopping said elevating means, and meansoperated by said elevating means for withdrawing said supportingmeans'.

6. The combination of a railroad-track crossing gate normally mountedunderneath the track adjacent said crossing :toi-,move-4 ment above the"surface of the ground, an

said gate with saidmotor, a circuit for operi- 4-ating said motor,a'switch in said circuit adjacent the railroad trackand adapted toelectric motor, a rack and gears connecting be closed by thewheels of atrain', resilient means tending to hold said switch.0pen','and.

an electromagnet with its coil in said circuit 4 'adapted to hold saidswitch'closed when said circuit is energized, a reversing switch in saidcircuit adapted to-be operated vby the rack and gears connecting 'saidygate wlth' said motor, a circuit Vfor operating said motor, a switch 1nsald circuit adjacent'the rallroad track and adapted to be closed bythev Wheels of a train', resilient means tending'to hold saidzswitchopen," and` an electroma et with its coil. in said circuit adapted toold" switch .closed, andvsai third switchbein said switch closed whe-n*said circuitis energized,fa reversing sw 'tch'in said circuit adapted tobe operated y'the `wheels of'- a' ltrain on said track, resilient`mf'aan's-tendn tto hold said reversing switch in one position,anelectromagnet with its'fcoil in said-v ci'rcnit adapted tohold said`mweran'g switch in another position L virhen saidfcirgnt is enei'gized;V a third switch, in said eircnitv adapti ed to be operated by saidgate, .resilient means tending to hold said ,thiyd` switch closed, saidgate when openedadapted to v, open said third switch, means forsupporting.,`

. said 'gatein its highest position, andmeans` 3 for withdrawing i said'supporting meanS when said reversing switchvreverses said motor.,v 1 y jl 8.- The combinationof a yra ilvvayerossing gate,` vertical guidingvmeans, elevating' means, and supporting'means; all of said means-beinglopera-tively associated ywith said gate ib'ut being disconnected fromsaid gate when said gate'fis raised, whereby said gate may be freelyremoved from all of said means; 1

, 9. The combination of a railwaycrossing gate, -\{ert1,ealvgu1d1ng-rmeans as socaated` with said gate, elevating means,means normally connecting said gate `withv said elevating means, saidconnecting means being entirely hand.

.dia-:conn'ected'ifi-'omv said gate .when :sai-d :gate

is` raised, means for supporting said gate when said gate is raised, andmeans oper ated by said elevating means for- Withdraw:- ing saidsupporting means when saidelevating means is operatedto lower said gate.

10.` The combinationof a railway crossingv gate, vertical guiding meansassociated with sald gate, elevating'means, means vnormally connectingsaidY gate with said elevating means, said connecting means being'-entirely disconnected from saidv gate when said gate is raised, landmeans for supporting said gate Wh'ens'aid gate 1s raised, said gate'when closed resting on but otherwise' being disconnected from saidsupporting means, whereby said gate when closed may be freely.' elevated`in 'said guiding means and freely `removed therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my FLORENCE A. s?lilann'rrm.V

